CollegeXpress: Graduate School Bloghttps://www.collegexpress.com/feeds/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog.xml2017-09-19T00:00:00ZWerkzeug5 Tips for a Better LSAT Scorehttp://www.CollegeXpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/5-tips-better-lsat-score/2017-09-19T00:00:00ZAllyson From Magoosh<p>If you&rsquo;re planning to take the LSAT soon, you should also be thinking of how you can get a high LSAT score. Studying for the LSAT can be a bit overwhelming, but keep these tips in mind and you&rsquo;re sure to improve your score.</p>
<h2>1. Study with the best LSAT materials</h2>
<p>You can&rsquo;t just study for the LSAT&mdash;you need to study well and with the <a href="https://magoosh.com/lsat/2017/lsat-prep-books-best/?utm_source=&amp;utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_campaign=lb&amp;utm_term=lbq32017&amp;utm_content=lsatprepbooks" target="_blank">best LSAT prep books</a>. This will ensure that you&rsquo;re studying the most up-to-date materials with the most effective methods and strategies to tackle all the LSAT&rsquo;s question types. There are a lot&mdash;and a I mean <em>a lot</em>&mdash;of LSAT materials out there, but they are not all created equal. You need to use the most trusted LSAT prep materials to make the most of your study time (which you&rsquo;re likely fitting in among lots of other obligations).</p>
<p>Once you&rsquo;ve found the best LSAT prep materials for you, you need to spend a little time learning the best and most effective ways to study for the LSAT. The LSAT is unlike any other test you&rsquo;ve ever taken, so you need to make sure you know <a href="https://magoosh.com/lsat/2016/how-to-study-for-the-lsat/?utm_source=&amp;utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_campaign=lb&amp;utm_term=lbq32017&amp;utm_content=howtostudylsat" target="_blank">how to study for the LSAT</a>. For example, not only do you have to undergo timed practice of all the different types of LSAT problems, you also need to keep track of your incorrect answers and review them as you&rsquo;re studying. Since the LSAT is a standardized test, you&rsquo;ll likely see similar questions on test day. By tracking and reviewing all of your wrong answers, you&rsquo;ll be ready on the day of the test for whatever is thrown your way.</p>
<h2>2. Set your LSAT study schedule</h2>
<p>To get a better LSAT score, you have to set your LSAT study plan early and stick to it. Studying for the LSAT involves weeks, if not months, of studying, so you need to choose which of the <a href="https://magoosh.com/lsat/2017/three-month-lsat-study-plan/?utm_source=&amp;utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_campaign=lb&amp;utm_term=lbq32017&amp;utm_content=threemonthstudyplan" target="_blank">LSAT study schedules</a> will work best for you. Decide what time of day you study best or when you can fit in your LSAT studying among your other school, work, and life obligations.</p>
<p>The best thing you can do to guarantee that you&rsquo;ll improve your score is to find the schedule that will work best for you. If you study for a few hours most days of the week for at least a couple of months, <em>plus</em> follow a prep plan that structures your studying for you, your score will increase. Just stick to your schedule and keep challenging yourself!</p>
<h2>3. Improve your Logical Reasoning score</h2>
<p>Obviously, improving your score on any section of the LSAT will improve your overall LSAT score. Increasing your Logical Reasoning score, however, will help your score the most, because your Logical Reasoning score is worth twice as much as your Reading Comprehension and Logic Games score. This means you need to focus a <em>lot</em> of your studying for the LSAT on Logical Reasoning.</p>
<h2>4. Focus on your critical reading skills</h2>
<p>To improve your LSAT score (and do well in law school), you have to be a strong critical reader. These skills are important not only on the Reading Comprehension section, but also on the Logical Reasoning and Logic Games sections of the LSAT. What does that mean? These skills are crucial to your success on every LSAT section. To properly understand a question stem in Logical Reasoning or the game setup for a Logic Game, you have to employ your critical reading skills. <em>Every</em> word on the LSAT is important. By practicing these skills every chance you get, you will notice you&rsquo;ll start to get more LSAT questions right. And who doesn&rsquo;t like to be right?</p>
<h2>5. Work on timed LSAT practice</h2>
<p>Once you&rsquo;ve mastered the basics for each section of the LSAT, you have to work on timed LSAT practice. You&rsquo;ll want to start by completing a few timed sections every day. Get familiar with how much time you have for each Logic Game or each Reading Comprehension passage. Timing will be a challenge at first, but only by moving efficiently through the LSAT will you be able to pick up as many available points as possible!</p>
<p>In addition to practicing individual timed LSAT sections, you&rsquo;ll also want to complete at least four full-length LSAT practice tests. This may lead you to wonder: just <a href="https://magoosh.com/lsat/2015/how-long-is-the-lsat/?utm_source=&amp;utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_campaign=lb&amp;utm_term=lbq32017&amp;utm_content=howlonglsat" target="_blank">how long is the LSAT?</a> That&rsquo;s a fair question, because taking four full-length practice tests is going to take 16 hours of your life. But you&rsquo;ll be so grateful for those 16 hours when you&rsquo;re moving quickly through problems on the day of the LSAT (and when you get your score back)!</p>
<h2>Recap</h2>
<p>To get a better LSAT score, you need to select the best LSAT prep books and learn how to study effectively for the LSAT. With these two key pieces in place, you should focus on improving your Logical Reasoning and critical reading skills to get the score you need to attend the school of your choice. And finally, you&rsquo;ll need to complete a lot of timed LSAT practice so you can crush it on the day of the actual LSAT!</p>
<p><strong>Related: </strong><a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/grad-school-applications/essential-guide-graduate-admission-tests-gre-gmat-lsat-mcat/" target="_self">The Essential Guide to Graduate Admission Tests: GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT</a></p>Improving Your GMAT Score: How to Overcome a Plateauhttp://www.CollegeXpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/improving-your-gmat-scores-how-overcome-plateau/2017-08-31T00:00:00ZRachel Kapelke-Dale<p>For almost a decade, I've worked with students prepping for the GMAT. If you're also studying for the test, you probably won't be surprised to learn that GMAT students tend to be a little&hellip;let's say, <em>Type A</em>. After all, you're the future leaders of the business world, and some intensity is a good thing.</p>
<p class="normal">However, there's one point in almost every GMAT test prep journey where this intensity not only stops helping you, but also prevents you from getting the score that you want.</p>
<p class="normal">That point is called a plateau.</p>
<p class="normal">Well, call it a plateau, call it a rut&mdash;I'd say at least 85% of the students I've worked with hit a point about two-thirds of the way through their studying where the big score gains they saw at the beginning of their studies have slowed, then halted. Some of these students may even see their scores go back down.</p>
<p class="normal">The good news is that, with the right mindset, you can break through that rut and go on to obtain the score you want. To do this, you'll need to experiment with a few different approaches to see which will work for you.</p>
<p class="normal">Trust me, though&mdash;if you keep stubbornly doing what you've been doing, doubling down on the methods that have gotten you this far, you're in essence beating your head against the wall.</p>
<p class="normal">Here's what to do instead.</p>
<h2 class="normal">Determine where you (really) are now</h2>
<p class="normal">At the beginning of your studies, you may have taken a diagnostic test to get a sense of the areas you needed to focus on most during your prep. However, if (like a lot of students) you haven't been taking practice tests regularly&mdash;did you know that one a week is ideal?&mdash;it's time to re-diagnose yourself. Sit down with a<a href="http://bit.ly/2u1ICPp" target="_blank"> GMAT practice test</a>. Then grade it, because I know you won't be able to wait until the next day.</p>
<p class="normal">The next day, though, be prepared to spend as much time reviewing your practice test as you did actually taking it. That's right&mdash;a good test review should take you three to four hours. Keep an error log of the problems you got wrong, as well as their solutions (and how to get there). Then, look over your error log with an analytical eye. What types of questions did you get wrong? Why did you get them wrong? What types of questions did you get right? Why did you get them right&mdash;were you guessing? If you've been taking practice tests along the way, how does this compare? Is there a particular question format, such as data sufficiency, that gives you particular trouble?</p>
<p class="normal">Before you can make progress, you need to know exactly where you are now. This method will show you that, while also showing you where you have the potential to gain points.</p>
<h2 class="normal">Evaluate your materials</h2>
<p class="normal">By the time you've hit a plateau in your GMAT studies, you've probably used some of the official GMAT materials. If you haven't, now's the time to start! But most students use these materials in combination with other sources of lessons and practice questions. If that describes you, take a cold, hard look at your non-official materials, comparing them with the official ones. Are the problems actually test-like? Are the answers well explained? Are the questions easier than what you'll see on test day? Sometimes a change in materials will help you shift your perspective enough to break through to the next level.</p>
<h2 class="normal">Take a (brief) break</h2>
<p class="normal">Yeah, I know you probably won't do this. I have to say, though, if you have more than a month (and especially if you have more than two months!) before your official <a href="http://bit.ly/2w8fQhm" target="_blank">GMAT exam</a>, taking four or five days away from studying can help you clear your mind and return to studying with much greater enthusiasm (or, if nothing else, a reignited sense of urgency). It's really easy to lose motivation as you work through the complex process of GMAT test prep, and sometimes you really do need to lean into that before you can move on.</p>
<h2 class="normal">Review your work</h2>
<p class="normal">Chances are that you haven't been keeping an error log, as I described above, to this point. Make one now. And go back to the beginning of your studies to help you do this. I know this is a time-consuming process, but it's absolutely worth it.</p>
<p class="normal">Once you have a notebook filled with questions you got wrong on one page and the answers and explanations on the facing page, look for patterns. Look for improvement or lack of it. Re-do the problems once a week. Keep re-doing them until you're consistently getting those problem types right on your (now weekly) practice exams.</p>
<h2 class="normal">Start fresh</h2>
<p class="normal">Once you've looked at what you've done and where you are now, and taken a short break, it's time to go at your studies with renewed gusto. If you've followed the advice in this post, you're in a great position to make progress. It may take some time, but actually, official GMAC studies have shown that<a href="http://www.mba.com/us/the-gmat-blog-hub/the-official-gmat-blog/2013/sep/study-smart-for-your-best-gmat.aspx" target="_blank"> test-takers scoring 700 or above put in an average of 121 hours of study</a>&mdash;and that other score brackets show similar patterns. So if you're studying well, you know where you've been, and you know where you're going, it's probably a simple matter of time. Keep using those quality materials, and let the stubborn part of your personality help get you through this. You <em>can </em>get there in the end!</p>How to Succeed on GRE Test Dayhttp://www.CollegeXpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/how-succeed-gre-test-day/2017-08-15T00:00:00ZRachel Kapelke-Dale<p class="normal">No matter how early you begin your GRE preparation, it can still feel like GRE test day arrives before you know it. Most test-takers will be at least slightly anxious at the prospect of sitting down for the exam: after all, most US graduate programs do consider your scores when looking at your application for admission. But never fear! With some advance preparation, you can minimize your worries and maximize your chances of success on GRE test day.</p>
<p class="normal"><strong>Related: </strong><a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/grad-school-applications/essential-guide-graduate-admission-tests-gre-gmat-lsat-mcat/" target="_blank">The Essential Guide to Graduate Admission Tests: GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT</a></p>
<h2 class="normal">Before test day</h2>
<h3 class="normal">Choose the right test day</h3>
<p class="normal">While it may seem obvious, many test-takers pick&nbsp;<a href="https://magoosh.com/gre/2017/gre-test-dates/?utm_source=&amp;utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_campaign=lb&amp;utm_term=lbq32017&amp;utm_content=gretestdates" target="_blank">GRE test dates</a> that are either way too soon or way too far away. The pitfalls of choosing a test date that's too soon are obvious: you won't have enough time to prepare yourself to get the score you want. But what's the problem with choosing a test date months from now? First, it'll reduce your motivation to start studying immediately. More importantly, if you wait until the last minute to take the GRE, you won't have a chance to retake the exam if you need to. A lot of students find they do better on their second official exam, so definitely leave time for a retake well before<em> </em>official program deadlines.</p>
<h3 class="normal">Know the test</h3>
<p class="normal">Maybe you're thinking back to the undergraduate admission process, where you may have walked into the SAT or ACT with little to no preparation and did well enough to get the score you wanted. With the&nbsp;<a href="https://magoosh.com/gre/2017/free-guide-gre-test/?utm_source=&amp;utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_campaign=lb&amp;utm_term=lbq32017&amp;utm_content=greguide" target="_blank">GRE test</a>, though, it'll be a different experience altogether. The GRE measures reasoning, just as undergraduate admission tests do&mdash;but it does so using&nbsp;<a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/grad-school-applications/10-gre-math-concepts-you-need-know/" target="_blank">complex math patterns</a> and vocabulary terms you will need to learn (or at the very least refresh your memory about).</p>
<h3 class="normal">Prepare!</h3>
<p class="normal">To do well on the GRE, you will need to prepare&mdash;and the earlier, the better. Taking at least one&nbsp;<a href="https://magoosh.com/gre/2017/free-gre-practice-test-diagnostic/?utm_source=&amp;utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_campaign=lb&amp;utm_term=lbq32017&amp;utm_content=grepracticetest">GRE practice test</a> early in your preparation will help familiarize you with the test format. From there, work on learning and mastering the gaps in knowledge that "diagnostic" test revealed, continuing to work on areas of weakness and reinforce your strengths.<em>&nbsp;</em></p>
<p class="normal"><strong>Related: </strong><a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/calmly-tackling-gre/" target="_blank">(Calmly) Tackling the GRE</a></p>
<h2 class="normal">On test day</h2>
<h3 class="normal">Calm your mind</h3>
<p class="normal">Even with the best preparation, anxiety can still cause test-takers to score lower than they're capable of. Other than being prepared for the experience, a few techniques can help you lessen this pressure. Gentle stretching, visualization, and slow, calm breathing can all help focus your energy. Getting some exercise the morning of the exam can also help you burn off excess anxiety (and flood you with some much-needed endorphins at the same time).&nbsp;</p>
<h3 class="normal">Let it go</h3>
<p class="normal">During your practice, you'll have learned about GRE timing&mdash;and you'll know that it's tight. You'll have just over a minute for each question, other than the essay. What this means for you as a test-taker is that if you're spending 10 minutes trying to crank through a question you're <em>just on the verge of getting right</em>, you're not answering other questions that you definitely <em>would</em> get right&mdash;if you only had the chance to see them. Don't let the clock freak you out, but do be mindful of how long you're spending on each problem. After a certain point (around two minutes is a good cut-off), eliminate the answer choices you can and make your best guess.</p>
<h3 class="normal">Remember&hellip;</h3>
<p class="normal">If you've scheduled your exam early enough, you'll have the chance to retake the GRE. This is great news, because it means the first time you take the official exam, you can treat it as a dry run. No pressure, just a learning experience. And if you're going into your retake, remember that admission committees look at more than just test scores&mdash;so relax, focus, and do your best. You can handle this!</p>
<p class="normal"><strong>Read more about the GRE in the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/#751" target="_blank">Gradate School Applications</a>&nbsp;section on CollegeXpress.</strong></p>Expert Grad School Financial Aid Tips You Need to Knowhttp://www.CollegeXpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/expert-grad-school-financial-aid-tips-you-need-know/2017-04-26T00:00:00ZDonald C. Martin<p><strong>Worried about paying for grad school? Read this first. A grad school insider shares his top tips for making smart financial decisions.</strong></p>
<p>Of all the challenges graduate students face, paying for grad school is right up there.</p>
<p>When I served as a Dean of Enrollment and Dean of Students, many of the issues students brought to me during my weekly open office hours centered on their grad school finances. Many had simply not taken time to think through the financial responsibilities they were assuming in pursuing a graduate education.</p>
<p>While graduate school is expensive, it can be made affordable by taking time to plan, conduct research, and think outside the box.</p>
<p>Here are a few tips for grad school financial aid tips and best practices that have been extremely helpful to students over the years.</p>
<h2>Ask yourself the right questions about your finances</h2>
<p>Before you even start your grad school search, you need to ask yourself a few critical questions about the financial implications:</p>
<ul>
<li>If you already have some debt, how comfortable are you taking on more? If you have no outstanding debt, how much are you comfortable borrowing?</li>
<li>Should you spend another year or two paying down your debt and/or saving money for grad school&mdash;and giving yourself more <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/grad-school-applications/essential-one-year-grad-school-application-timeline/" target="_self">time to prepare for grad school</a> and really check out all of your graduate school options?</li>
<li>Have you researched the potential ROI of your graduate degree, including the job prospects and estimated salaries for your intended post-grad career?</li>
<li>Have you considered the financial consequences of going to grad school in their totality, including both the estimated costs of the program and potential loss of income if you need to take any time off from work?</li>
</ul>
<h2>Research your grad school&rsquo;s financial aid options&mdash;ASAP</h2>
<p>When <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/" target="_self">researching graduate school</a>, spend as much time looking at the financial aid each program offers as you do any other facet of the school. Do not wait until you are admitted to find this information. Why? Because some institutions offer scholarships or fellowships you apply for when you submit your application for admission. If you wait to research graduate financial aid until you are admitted, you have lost out on the opportunity to be considered for these scholarships and fellowships&mdash;not to mention impaired your ability to make more informed application decisions.</p>
<h2>Check your credit score</h2>
<p>Much like with other big-ticket purchases, like a house or car, your credit score can have a serious impact on your ability to pay for grad school. Check your credit score before submitting your grad school applications and try to amend any issues. Problems with your financial record might delay your ability to receive graduate financial aid and/or qualify for student loans, if needed. And by the time things are resolved, it could be too late.</p>
<h2>Explore job opportunities at your grad school</h2>
<p>Consider working at your graduate school, part or full time, if at all possible. You could even work with/for a faculty member in your department. (I did this for both my master&rsquo;s and doctoral programs, and the experience, not to mention the financial help, was invaluable.)</p>
<p>Working for your grad school, you can help defray the costs with your earnings, improve your employability by adding relevant work to your r&eacute;sum&eacute;, or, depending on the position, perhaps even take advantage of an employee tuition discount. Another tip for you: grad schools love to hire their students!</p>
<h2>Don&rsquo;t stop after you enroll</h2>
<p>Keep asking for financial assistance and searching for <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/scholarships/search" target="_self">graduate grants and scholarships</a> after you enroll. There could be additional sources of financial aid that become available once you are there. Toward the end of each term, stop by the graduate financial aid office and ask if there are any new scholarships available; if so, ask what you can do to apply for them and be a competitive applicant.</p>
<p>There is a major myth that graduate school is always too expensive and, therefore, impossible to attain. This is usually not the case. With adequate planning ahead of time and a dedicated pursuit of funding opportunities once admitted and enrolled, it is possible to finance your graduate education.</p>
<p><strong>Related: </strong><a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/choosing-graduate-program/find-right-graduate-program-you/" target="_self">How to Find the Right Graduate Program for You</a></p>
<p><strong>Stay tuned for my next article: How to Succeed in Grad School. In addition, feel free to check out my </strong><a href="http://www.gradschoolroadmap.com" target="_blank"><strong>website</strong></a><strong>, join me on </strong><a href="https://twitter.com/gradschoolguide" target="_blank"><strong>Twitter</strong></a><strong>, or leave a question in the comments. </strong></p>Win an Expert Grad School Admission Coaching Session!http://www.CollegeXpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/win-expert-grad-school-coaching-session/2017-03-27T00:00:00ZCollegeXpress<p><strong><img title="Win an Expert Grad School Admission Coaching Session" src="http://i.makeagif.com/media/11-04-2016/YiiNkn.gif" alt="Win an Expert Grad School Admission Coaching Session" width="600" height="400" /></strong></p>
<p><strong>Attention future grad school students: we're giving away some expert one-on-one grad school coaching! You might recall that we did this last fall too&mdash;so if you weren't one of our winners back then, here's another chance to win!</strong></p>
<p>No matter where you are in your grad school search, you want to win this contest. You'll get the advice you need to get an edge in today&rsquo;s competitive grad school world.</p>
<h2>The expert</h2>
<p>Dr. Donald C. Martin has served as the Dean of Admission at Columbia, Northwestern, and University of Chicago, among others. He&rsquo;s coached more than 250 grad students&mdash;with a 99% admission rate&mdash;to schools like Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Cornell, and Emory. So&hellip;you could say he knows his stuff. (Learn more about him <a title="Grad School Road Map" href="http://www.gradschoolroadmap.com/" target="_blank">here</a>.)</p>
<h2>The prize</h2>
<p>You&rsquo;ll win one 30-minute consultation call with Dr. Martin. And you can talk about virtually anything related to your grad school search, such as:</p>
<ul>
<li>Refining your grad school goals</li>
<li>Reviewing your application essay</li>
<li>Discussing programs you&rsquo;re considering</li>
</ul>
<p>Don't worry; you'll be able to prepare for your call in advance!</p>
<h2>The details</h2>
<ul>
<li>Any undergraduate student or alumni interested in grad school can participate, regardless of where they are in the grad school search/application process.</li>
<li>The contest runs from Monday, March 27, to Friday, April 7.</li>
<li>To win, submit a paragraph&mdash;no longer than 200 words&mdash;describing why you want to go to grad school and the kind of grad school advice you&rsquo;re looking for. <strong>You can submit your contest entry <a title="Google Forms" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZhFJvse7BBn92jzRWubzGYLFScFqvN8w_lTSSFQkK_kgpgA/viewform" target="_blank">here</a></strong> (through Google Forms). You'll be asked for your undergraduate institution, (intended) degree, and year of graduation, along with your name and e-mail.</li>
<li>Winners will be chosen by the CollegeXpress staff and Dr. Martin. They will be notified via e-mail by Friday, April 21.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Go&nbsp;<a title="Google Forms" href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZhFJvse7BBn92jzRWubzGYLFScFqvN8w_lTSSFQkK_kgpgA/viewform" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;to submit your entry (through Google Forms).&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p><strong></strong>Good luck!</p>Waitlisted, Denied, Accepted: Dealing With Grad School Admission Decisionshttp://www.CollegeXpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/waitlisted-denied-accepted-dealing-grad-school-admission-decisions/2017-02-03T00:00:00ZDonald C. Martin<p><strong>What should you do if your grad school application is waitlisted, denied, or accepted? Well, it varies. But following this expert advice is a great place to start...</strong></p>
<p>It&rsquo;s February, and at this point in the grad school admission process, most applicants have submitted their materials, paid the fee, and are waiting to hear from the admission committee. No easy feat.</p>
<p>The three grad school admission decisions typically rendered are <strong>acceptance</strong>, <strong>denial</strong>, or placement on a <strong>waiting list</strong>. On rare occasions an applicant will be admitted conditionally; this usually entails being asked to do some additional work (added essays, retaking a standardized test, taking a course or two), the successful completion of which automatically means admission.</p>
<p>Below are some detailed suggestions for responding to each of the three major grad school admission decisions, starting with the admission decision I believe can be the most difficult: the waiting list.</p>
<h2>What to do if you&rsquo;re waitlisted</h2>
<p>In some ways, this is the hardest grad school admission decision&mdash;in that it&rsquo;s not an actual decision. You just don&rsquo;t know how things are going to unfold. But don&rsquo;t despair. If you&rsquo;ve been waitlisted for grad school, consider doing the following:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Don&rsquo;t take it personally. </strong>Of course, this is easier said than done. No one likes being on a waiting list. Unfortunately, your application was not as competitive as those being offered admission; however, you still have some very strong credentials. The good news is you were not denied. There is still a chance you will be admitted. In fact, from my experience, it&rsquo;s a very good one.</li>
<li><strong>Make sure you follow instructions.</strong> After receiving a waitlist decision, be professional and do what is suggested or asked of you. If you are given specific instructions on what you can do next, follow them to the letter. If you do not receive any information about next steps, ask. Don&rsquo;t demand, complain, or argue; just see if there is anything you can do. If you are told no, accept that and do not do anything. (It may also tell you something about the graduate institution if they do not provide you an opportunity to further address your interest in their program.)</li>
<li><strong>If feedback is offered, take it.</strong> And simply listen. Do not become defensive or angry. Thank the provider of the information, and confirm if and how you are to respond. For example, if the graduate program will accept a written response, write a formal letter or e-mail as soon as you can. Address each issue head on and explain why and how you believe you can &ldquo;overcome&rdquo; the concern.</li>
<li><strong>Mount a letter of recommendation campaign.</strong> If you can get two or three additional individuals to write recommendation letters for you, this is the time. You may even want some of your original recommenders to write another letter, if they have anything to add. However, do not send more than three or four letters of recommendation at this point. More than this is overkill.</li>
<li><strong>Request a campus interview.</strong> And if your interview request is granted, do not pass it up. If a campus interview is not made available to you but you conducted an interview with an alumnus during the application process, contact him or her and ask for a recommendation letter. This person might even be willing to call the graduate admission committee on your behalf.</li>
<li><strong>Send a hand-written thank-you note </strong>to the person who signed your notification letter a few weeks before a final admission decision is supposed to be made. Indicate your sincere interest in this graduate program. Mention that you have responded as requested to your waitlist status. End the note by thanking this person for the time and attention they have given and will give to your application.</li>
<li><strong>Be cautiously creative.</strong> If you are <em>certain</em> you can add some appropriate personality to your graduate admission file, you might send a photo album, card, &ldquo;Top 10 Reasons Why I Should Be Admitted&rdquo; list, etc. But do not do all of these for the same institution! Choose one.</li>
<li><strong>Exude patience and professionalism.</strong> There are several reasons for placing students on an admission waiting list&mdash;but deliberately trying to frustrate you is not one of them. If you appear offended, inconvenienced, angry, resentful, argumentative, or arrogant, you will almost certainly determine the outcome of your waitlisted graduate application: you will be denied. Stay calm, confident, and patient. Try to go with the flow. The right attitude can work wonders toward reaching your goals, not to mention impressing graduate admission folks.</li>
<li><strong>Prepare for either admission or denial.</strong> While one decision might be preferable to the other, be ready for either response. (Keep reading for tips on how to do just that.)</li>
</ul>
<h2>What to do if you&rsquo;re denied</h2>
<p>A grad school denial is never easy. After all the time and work you put in to your application, it can feel like a real slap in the face. If you are upset by the admission decision, do not react by phone or in writing right away. Give yourself a few days to cool down. As you reflect, consider the following:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Don&rsquo;t take it personally.</strong> Remember, most graduate admission committees are faced with a very difficult task: admitting a limited number of students from a very large&mdash;and often very qualified&mdash;applicant pool. Admission folks are doing the best they can. Believe me, they are not personally against you in any way.</li>
<li><strong>Write a thank you note.</strong> Send it to the person who signed your notification letter. This displays impressive tact and maturity and can place you in good stead should you decide to reapply.</li>
<li><strong>If you believe something was overlooked, ask about it.</strong> Ideally, you would have confirmed that all of your materials (test scores, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) were up-to-date and accounted for <em>before </em>the application deadline. But if not, or if important information was transmitted after the deadline for whatever reason, check to make sure your grad school application was complete when it was read. If something was overlooked, most graduate admission committees will provide another complete evaluation of your application. If they are unwilling to do so or, worse, not even willing to check, it might be a sign that this isn&rsquo;t the grad school for you.</li>
<li><strong>Double-check the decision.</strong> Though highly unlikely, it is possible that the admission committee made a mistake, where the decision to admit was accidentally entered as a denial. But please know that this rarely happens. All admission offices have several &ldquo;checks&rdquo; in place to ensure that the proper decision is communicated to the applicant. That being said, it likely would not hurt to check. Just do so kindly, not in an accusatory way.</li>
<li><strong>Request feedback and honor what you are told.</strong> Some admission personnel will offer feedback for denied applicants in person, over the phone, or in writing. If they do, take advantage&mdash;just be gracious. Do not become defensive when you receive the feedback. Make sure you understand what was communicated, and be sure to thank the person for their time.</li>
<li><strong>Consider re-applying and ask about that process.</strong> You may find your chances of being admitted are higher the second time around (a lot can change in a year). Or ask if additional information from you could result in a second look.</li>
<li><strong>Practice patience and professionalism.</strong> If you decide to respond to the graduate admission committee after being denied, please remember this: a mature, thoughtful attitude makes a huge and positive impression, believe me!</li>
<li><strong>Accept the decision.</strong> At this point you cannot change it. Remember: this is a temporary disappointment, not a final blow. Whether you reapply to the graduate program that denied you, apply elsewhere, or reconfigure your plans, you will succeed if you work hard and are thoughtful and determined.</li>
</ul>
<h2>What to do if you&rsquo;re admitted</h2>
<p>You did it! Your hard work has paid off, and you should take some time to celebrate. But once your euphoria subsides, keep in mind you still have lots of decisions ahead. Here are some next steps to consider after being accepted to the graduate program(s) of your choice:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Thank those who helped you</strong> (family, friends, recommenders, interviewer, etc.). While you did the lion&rsquo;s share of the work, others likely helped with your application and/or gave you lots of encouragement and support along the way. This may be especially true if you were initially waitlisted. Be sure to thank these individuals in the graduate admission office too. Speaking of which&hellip;</li>
<li><strong>Send a thank you note</strong> specifically to the person who signed your notification letter. This gesture goes a long way. You certainly worked hard to complete your application; the graduate admission committee works hard too!</li>
<li><strong>Take admitted student information seriously</strong>. Not long after receiving your grad school acceptance, you&rsquo;ll start getting important updates about your enrollment deposit, financial aid, graduate housing (if applicable), admitted student visit programs, course scheduling, new student orientation, student life, and much more. Hold on to this information and read it carefully.</li>
<li><strong>Start (or continue) talking with other students</strong>. By now you may have established contact with current or former graduate students from your program. You may even know others who were just admitted too. Reach out to these individuals (social media can be great for this). You can learn a lot from them all. Knowing some of your student colleagues before you enroll is helpful too.</li>
<li><strong>Try to schedule a campus visit.</strong> Whether or not you have done so already, now is a great time to visit your future campus. Many graduate institutions offer admitted student programs. This provides a great opportunity for you to meet the &ldquo;family&rdquo; you may decide to join for the next few years. You may also choose to visit on your own at another time. And if you want an unadulterated look at the graduate institution, make an unannounced visit! When no one knows you&rsquo;re coming, you can experience things as they really are. Just keep in mind that you will not be able to schedule appointments you might want ahead of time, like visits with professors.</li>
<li><strong>Evaluate how you are treated post admission/deposit</strong>. As a prospective student, you were in the driver&rsquo;s seat when deciding where you would apply. Once you submitted your grad school application, you turned the wheel over to the admission committee. Now that you have been accepted, you are once again in control. You get to decide whether to accept the offer of admission. It can be helpful to evaluate how you are treated. Does the admitted student follow-up process make you feel wanted, included, and informed? If so, great. If not, perhaps you need to think more seriously about enrollment in this particular program.</li>
<li><strong>Do some &ldquo;comparison shopping.&rdquo;</strong> Remember the spreadsheet you started at the <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/grad-school-applications/essential-one-year-grad-school-application-timeline/">beginning of your grad school search</a>? Now is a good time to review all the research you did to find the right graduate program(s) for you, while factoring in any financial aid you&rsquo;ve received as well as anything you&rsquo;ve learned since applying. Revisit things like academics (program reputation, research opportunities, length of program, average class size, etc.), costs (total projected costs minus financial aid, savings, etc.), and general factors (distance from home, extracurricular opportunities, etc.). You might even want to develop a scoring system for these metrics and give each school a grade! At the end of the day, use the information you&rsquo;ve so painstakingly gathered to make the most informed grad school decision possible. &nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Start working on your financial plan.</strong> For most grad students, this takes time. Even if you are not relocating geographically, there is a lot to consider. Make sure to read the fine print about every scholarship, fellowship, assistantship, and/or stipend you are offered. If you need student loan assistance, be very careful to educate yourself before signing on the dotted line. One common oversight among admitted grad students is keeping track of just how long awarded funds will last. Be sure you know whether a scholarship/fellowship/assistantship is good for one year, two years, etc. This may seem elementary, but it is amazing how many incoming graduate students make assumptions about the length of their non-loan financial aid. Be sure you know these things before you enroll. You don&rsquo;t want any financial surprises!</li>
<li><strong>If you are relocating, start preparing.</strong> Most graduate institutions can help, but you will need to do a lot on your own. If campus housing is available to grad students, do not wait until the last minute to inquire and apply. Hopefully, you already looked into this during the application process. Nonetheless, carefully read and follow housing instructions as you receive them.</li>
<li><strong>Keep a list of compliments and/or suggestions</strong> to share with the admission office after you have enrolled. Speaking from experience: admission staff members are always looking for ways to improve their service, and your constructive feedback is appreciated! If you are being &ldquo;courted&rdquo; by several graduate institutions, make a list of best practices for admitted student follow up while the experience is still fresh in your mind. Share these shortly after you begin your studies. You might even consider inquiring about being a student admission volunteer or worker as part of your graduate experience.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Stay tuned for my next article: financing your graduate education. In addition, feel free to check out my </strong><a href="http://www.gradschoolroadmap.com" target="_blank"><strong>website</strong></a><strong> and/or to join me on </strong><a href="http://www.twitter.com/GradSchoolGuide" target="_blank"><strong>Twitter</strong></a><strong>.</strong></p>5 Critical Reminders Before Sending in Your Graduate School Applicationshttp://www.CollegeXpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/5-last-minute-reminders-sending-your-graduate-school-applications/2016-11-11T00:00:00ZDonald C. Martin<p class="normal">In my prior two blog posts, I discussed some ways to be <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/7-ways-shine-graduate-school-applicant/">positively noticed</a> as a graduate school applicant and some ways to get <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/grad-school-applications/7-deadly-sins-graduate-school-applicants/">negative attention</a>. Now, with many of this year&rsquo;s grad school application deadlines right around the corner, I wanted to share some last-minute admission tips and reminders. So you can submit the strongest graduate applications possible&mdash;and gain some valuable perspective.</p>
<h2>1. Give yourself time to do your best work</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/7-ways-shine-graduate-school-applicant/">I&rsquo;ve mentioned this before</a>, but it bears repeating at this stage of the game, since time is running short. Rushing and/or waiting until the last minute tends to lead to making unintentional mistakes that can be costly when your grad school application is evaluated. Prioritize completing your applications to the best of your ability. This may mean making some sacrifices to carve out time to thoughtfully complete your applications, from turning down social invitations to giving up your weekends.</p>
<h2>2. Remember that presentation is also important</h2>
<p>While the content of your application is obviously paramount, the &ldquo;look and feel&rdquo; of it matters too. This is especially true when the graduate institution or program to which you are applying is extremely selective and has the luxury of choosing students from a very large applicant pool.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Beyond proofreading your application to catch grammar and spelling mistakes, make sure your name and contact information appear on each page and that all pages are in the right order. If you will be submitting physical copies of anything, make sure the materials are clean and well organized. And before you hit &ldquo;submit,&rdquo; always perform one last check to make sure every application field is complete and all required materials are included&mdash;and they&rsquo;re for the correct school.</p>
<h2>3. Be yourself</h2>
<p>This is <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/7-ways-shine-graduate-school-applicant/">another repeat from earlier posts</a>, but for good reason. The best grad school applications I have read are from those who were, in effect, communicating the following between the lines: &ldquo;This is me. I hope you will appreciate who I am and also appreciate the level of interest I&rsquo;ve demonstrated in your institution by completing this application. If you choose to admit me, I&rsquo;ll be thrilled. If you don&rsquo;t, I&rsquo;ll be okay.&rdquo; Keep that in mind as you wrap up your grad school applications, and you&rsquo;ll be ahead of the curve.</p>
<h2>4. Make contingency plans in case you are not admitted</h2>
<p>In my nearly 30 years as an admission dean, I&rsquo;ve met many applicants who were so convinced that a particular institution was for them or that this was the year they were going to attend graduate school that they did not make plans for what to do if things did not go as they hoped. Some would go so far as to inform employers and loved ones of their plans before it was advisable to do so. In some very extreme cases, they moved to where their top graduate option was located before they received an admission decision!</p>
<p>Being prepared for all outcomes is not a sign of lack of belief in yourself or your ability to do graduate work. It is a sign that you realize life does not always go the way we expected and having a backup plan is often required&mdash;a sign of prudence and maturity.</p>
<h2>5. Think about the grad school admission process as a learning experience&mdash;because it is</h2>
<p>Though it&rsquo;s easy to get caught up in the stress of completing your grad school applications, try to reframe the process as a valuable opportunity for personal growth and reflection.</p>
<p>Remember, simply going through a graduate school application process can be a major learning experience in and of itself. As they move through the application process, some applicants end up deciding not to pursue graduate study or wait a while. Others decide to pursue an entirely different area of study than they originally had in mind. As you complete each application, you will engage in personal reflection and self-discovery. This often proves quite rewarding, regardless of the admission decisions you receive.</p>
<p><strong>Stay tuned for my next article: what to do <em>after</em> submitting your grad school applications. In addition, feel free to share your questions in the comments below, check out my&nbsp;<a title="Grad School Roadmap" href="http://www.gradschoolroadmap.com/" target="_blank">website</a>, and/or to join me on&nbsp;<a title="Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/GradSchoolGuide" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.</strong></p>
<p><strong>PS Want to learn more expert tips from Dr. Martin? You could win a free grad school admission consulting session! Enter the contest <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/win-expert-grad-school-coaching-session/">here</a>.&nbsp;</strong></p>Tips for the Post-Grad-School Job Searchhttp://www.CollegeXpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/tips-post-grad-school-job-search/2016-07-18T00:00:00ZKevin Wright<p>Surprisingly, the job search process was fun for me! I won&rsquo;t get into how many applications I submitted, but between December 1, 2015, and April 21, 2016, I was fortunate enough to partake in 51 interviews (first round, second round, third round, campus interview, etc.). My job search involved a lot of networking, traveling, discipline, and intense time management. To provide more context, the majority of my last semester&rsquo;s course work was done either in an airport or on an airplane; any time I was not interviewing or researching institutions, I was maximizing my time and staying ahead of my classes. Here&rsquo;s my best advice for a successful post-grad-school job search.</p>
<h2>Tailor your r&eacute;sum&eacute;s</h2>
<p>When it came to the r&eacute;sum&eacute;, I had different types for each functional area I was interested in.&nbsp; I narrowed my <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/inside-my-graduate-studies-student-affairs-administration/">student affairs</a> job search down to Residence Life, Advancement, Student Conduct, Multicultural Affairs, and Title IX. With these five functional areas, I had five different r&eacute;sum&eacute;s to speak about my experience with enough breadth and depth to prove why I was qualified for each position I applied for.</p>
<h2>Tailor your cover letters</h2>
<p>I did the same thing with my cover letters; they were formatted differently for each functional area. Additionally, I would try to find at least three things that peaked my interest while applying; if there was ever a moment I thought I couldn&rsquo;t do this, I ended up not applying for the position. Whatever attributes about the institution aligned with my values and beliefs, I would articulate that into the cover letter to make it more personable. I believe that if I&rsquo;m not able to show who I really am on paper, then I&rsquo;m limiting my chances of having people see who I really am in person.</p>
<h2>Communicate with references</h2>
<p>Depending on the job and the institution, I was very strategic with who I listed. With each reference list, I tried to make sure to list at least my current supervisor, my former supervisor, and either a faculty member or someone I knew at the institution I was interested in working for to speak about my work ethic. Something a mentor told me in the past was to network, network, network. By doing this, I would be able to make my net, work.</p>
<h2>&ldquo;Tell us about yourself&rdquo;</h2>
<p>Many refer to this question as the kiss of death in interviews. However, I actually love this question because I believe many people love talking about themselves. Because I expect this question to start the interview, I always make sure I provide a little bit of a personal story and connect it to my journey into student affairs, then finish it off with why I&rsquo;m interested in the position and the specific institution. With this question, I&rsquo;ve been advised to make my answer no more than one minute. If you&rsquo;re not able to articulate your answer in 60 seconds, start practicing. Whatever you do, <em>do not</em> regurgitate what you wrote in your cover letter and r&eacute;sum&eacute;.</p>
<h2>Haven&rsquo;t found a job yet?</h2>
<p>I started my job search on December 1, 2015, during my penultimate semester of grad school. However, some of my colleagues started a little later in mid-January, while others started even a little later than that. Each person&rsquo;s situation is different, which is why I tell folks, <em>please stay in your lane</em>. Don&rsquo;t worry about what is happening to others around you.&nbsp; You will end up where you&rsquo;re meant to be. I know this is easier said than done; however, it&rsquo;s the best advice I can provide.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Another thing to keep in mind is that the job search looks different across different industries; other colleagues of mine in other programs just started their job search in mid-May, and we all just graduated at the beginning of June. Nonetheless, stay focused only on yourself, don&rsquo;t be afraid to ask for help, take advantage of your resources, use your network, get assistance from your institutions&rsquo; career centers, chat with your faculty, and most importantly, don&rsquo;t <em>ever</em> be desperate for a job. It&rsquo;s better waiting for the job of your dreams than rushing into the job of your nightmares.</p>7 Ways to Shine as a Graduate School Applicanthttp://www.CollegeXpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/7-ways-shine-graduate-school-applicant/2016-07-05T00:00:00ZDonald C. Martin<p>The final stage of the graduate application process means both relief and angst for prospective students. You sit down to finalize and submit applications you&rsquo;ve been pouring <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/grad-school-applications/essential-one-year-grad-school-application-timeline/">months of your time into</a>. (Of course, then comes a period of time that&rsquo;s even more stressful: waiting for the admission committee&rsquo;s decision!)</p>
<p>Based on my experience reviewing thousands of graduate school applications over three decades, here are a few tips to help you stand out as an applicant:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Relax. </strong>The grad school application process is a major learning experience, and applicants often learn as they go. Staying positive and calm will allow you to be reflective and thoughtful as you fill out your applications. Conversely, worrying and obsessing does <em>not</em> help. In fact, it will likely hinder your ability to think clearly and focus on preparing the best application possible.&nbsp;</li>
<li><strong>Be yourself. </strong>No one is perfect, and applicants who try to make themselves look perfect raise suspicion. Admission committees can tell when you&rsquo;re embellishing your application or making excuses for weaker areas. Presenting yourself in a genuine and honest way is very important. We all have encountered applicants who we initially perceive to be fake or pretending in some way. And my usual response to these individuals it was <em>not</em> positive. As the saying goes: &ldquo;Be yourself&mdash;everyone else is already taken.&rdquo;</li>
<li><strong>Ask questions that show you did your research. </strong>It is very disheartening for any admission staff (graduate and undergrad alike) when applicants ask questions for which answers have been repeatedly provided on the school website or in printed materials. Two of the questions I was often asked&mdash;and which elicited a very negative reaction from me&mdash;are, &ldquo;What are your application deadlines?&rdquo; or &ldquo;Do you offer financial aid.&rdquo; Questions like these demonstrate either a lack of real interest, a lack of initiative in doing some (<em>very</em> easy) research, or both. If and when you interact with graduate admission counselors, ask thoughtful questions that show you did your homework. (A school&rsquo;s current events page is a great place to look for question fodder.) Show you took time to thoroughly investigate the program and institution to which you are applying.</li>
<li><strong></strong><strong>Give yourself enough time. </strong>At a minimum, <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/grad-school-applications/essential-one-year-grad-school-application-timeline/">take a few months</a> to gather and compile all of the required materials. Then check and recheck to make sure all documents are in order. Do not wait until the last second before pushing the &ldquo;submit&rdquo; button. Believe me, admission personnel can tell. How? Because often there are mistakes, missing information, and/or essays that were obviously written for another program. All distinct checkmarks in the &ldquo;do not admit&rdquo; column.</li>
<li><strong>Follow directions. </strong>Not doing so raises major questions about how a candidate might adhere to policies and procedures once admitted and enrolled. If there is a word limit for essay questions, follow it. If you are asked for two letters of recommendation, do not send more. If you are specifically told not to follow up via e-mail or phone, don't. As one admission director once said to me, "Following directions shows respect, and in doing so you'll earn some in return."</li>
<li><strong></strong><strong>Be professional. </strong>Maintaining a professional demeanor in all circumstances is a sign of maturity. To be perfectly honest: graduate school is a big deal and can be stressful, and if you're someone who easily loses their cool, then you're likely not ready for the challenge. You should be confident and self-assured, but not to the point of being perceived as overly aggressive, abrasive, or demanding. If something goes wrong in your application process (and little slip-ups happen all the time), keep your cool. This makes a major positive impression.</li>
<li><strong>Focus on content and presentation. </strong>A candidate might have the greatest standardized test scores, a superb undergrad GPA, and impressive <a href="http://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/top-business-schools/articles/2012/07/06/4-recommendation-letter-errors-mba-applicants-should-avoid">letters of recommendation</a>. But if the application contains obvious misspellings or grammatical errors, it's going to be a problem. Rightly or wrongly, graduate admission committees will assume the applicant was not entirely serious about his or her application&mdash;or graduate school intentions.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Stay tuned for my next article: <a href="http://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/articles/grad-school-applications/7-deadly-sins-graduate-school-applicants/">seven deadly sins for graduate school applicants</a>. In addition, feel free to share your questions in the comments below, check out my <a href="http://www.gradschoolroadmap.com">website</a>, and/or to join me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/GradSchoolGuide">Twitter</a>. </strong></p>Top 10 Apps for Graduate Studentshttp://www.CollegeXpress.com/articles-and-advice/grad-school/blog/top-10-apps-graduate-students/2016-06-20T00:00:00ZKevin Wright<p>During my time in graduate school, there were a few apps that contributed to my overall success and well-being. However, I didn&rsquo;t want to provide only my perspective, so I took the liberty of surveying a few colleagues from other institutions. The following are the most common apps that folks mentioned for graduate school success (and sanity).</p>
<h2>Academic apps</h2>
<h3>Google Drive</h3>
<p><em>Free for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.docs&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-drive-free-online-storage/id507874739?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a></em></p>
<p>With Google Drive, students are able to make Word documents, presentations, spreadsheets, forms/surveys, and drawings. Additionally, you can openly share any of these files with your colleagues so they can edit and comment in real time. This app especially comes in handy when you may not be able to access a laptop or computer. It provides 15GB of free storage and has the ability to modify any kind of pre-existing files that are equivalent to the services provided by Google Drive.</p>
<h3>Evernote</h3>
<p><strong></strong><em>Free for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.evernote&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/evernote-capture-notes-sync/id281796108?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a>; $5/month or $45/year for premium service</em></p>
<p>Evernote is kind of like Google Docs, except some people prefer Evernote because of its inclusiveness with sharing Word documents. With Google Drive, you can only share documents with people who also have a Google account. But with Evernote, you can share with anyone as long as they have a valid e-mail address. There&rsquo;s simply more flexibility for folks who may not like or prefer Google-based technology. Plus, it&rsquo;s a great note-taking app for class lectures and assigned readings.</p>
<h2>Communication apps</h2>
<h3>Facebook</h3>
<p><strong></strong><em>Free for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.facebook.katana&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/facebook/id284882215?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a></em></p>
<p>It depends on where you identify with social media involvement, but many colleagues and I noticed that some people we communicated with would check Facebook more frequently than their e-mail. It got to the point where if we wanted important tasks to get done in a timely manner, we had to rely on social media to get in touch instead of other platforms. Facebook groups are pretty resourceful and provide a virtual space for folks to come together and dialogue, collaborate, and provide community outreach. I&rsquo;ve seen the benefit of using Facebook based on how many groups I have the privilege of being a part of. Sometimes, when the group is not looking for a long annoying group message or inbox overflow, we simply post important announcements in the Facebook groups.</p>
<h3>GroupMe</h3>
<p><strong></strong><em>Free for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.groupme.android&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/groupme/id392796698?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a></em></p>
<p>Speaking of group messages, GroupMe is very resourceful for sending group messages that are meant to be concise and straight to the point. Additionally, it provides an inclusive platform of communicating since iPhones and Androids don&rsquo;t have the best relationship with group-texting each other. Plus, for security purposes, if a person is not comfortable with giving out their personal information, they can have people directly message them through the app without the concern of their phone number falling into the possession of someone who may abuse it.</p>
<h2>Financial apps</h2>
<h3>Venmo</h3>
<p><strong></strong><em>Free for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co&hellip;" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/venmo/id351727428?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a></em></p>
<p>Splitting a dinner? Need a financial favor? Sharing the cost of a hotel room? Venmo is a great app that can help you do all that. It&rsquo;s similar to PayPal (see below), but it doesn&rsquo;t have any fees associated with it, regardless of the type of transaction. From my personal experience, Venmo seems to accept more bank accounts than PayPal. But on the other hand, it&rsquo;s only used for transferring money to your friends; you <em>cannot</em> make purchases with it.</p>
<h3>PayPal</h3>
<p><strong></strong><em>Free for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.paypal.android.p2pmobile&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/paypal-send-money-quickly/id283646709?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a></em></p>
<p>With PayPal, you can do everything that you can do with Venmo, but you can make actual purchases too. Need to pay for groceries? Watching a sale with your favorite store? Waiting for Cyber Monday sales? Many online vendors accept payments from a PayPal account. It&rsquo;s great when you may not have your card on you but you have some money stashed away on PayPal. When it comes to transferring money, I&rsquo;d say PayPal and Venmo are the same in terms of how long it may take for the transfer to go through; it&rsquo;s all about the timing.</p>
<h2>Organization apps</h2>
<h3>Google Calendar</h3>
<p><strong></strong><em>Free for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.calendar&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=us" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/google-calendar/id909319292?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a></em></p>
<p>Although iPhone has iCal, many folks find more convenience with Google technology.&nbsp; Scheduling appointments and important dates, setting reminders for yourself, and sharing these important moments with others can all be done with Google Calendar. It&rsquo;s gotten to the point that if something is not on my Google Calendar, it doesn&rsquo;t exist. This mentality really helped with my time management as a grad student.</p>
<h3>Trello</h3>
<p><strong></strong><em>Free for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.trello&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/trello/id461504587?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a></em></p>
<p>Trello is an awesome task manager app. Whether it&rsquo;s important assignments, a list of tasks for my service group, or a timeline for a committee I&rsquo;m serving on, Trello is a reliable resource to assist with time management. However, it&rsquo;s only helpful if you put in the effort to actually update your to-do lists in order for the app to actually work.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>Social apps</h2>
<h3>Groupon</h3>
<p><strong></strong><em>Free for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.groupon&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/groupon-deals-coupons-shopping/id352683833?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a></em></p>
<p>As a grad student, it&rsquo;s important to make an effort to have a life outside of the classroom. My colleagues and I used Groupon all the time to find exciting activities to attend all throughout the city/state at cheap and affordable prices, if not for free. It was a way for us to break away from the course work and enjoy life outside the classroom.&nbsp;</p>
<h3>Meetup</h3>
<p><em>Free for <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.meetup&amp;hl=en" target="_blank">Android</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/meetup-groups-near-you-that/id375990038?mt=8" target="_blank">iPhone</a></em></p>
<p>Meetup is a great tool to use when you are attending an institution in an area you&rsquo;re unfamiliar with. In grad school, if your program has a cohort model, you&rsquo;re going to see literally the same people all the time. That&rsquo;s not a bad thing, but Meetup is a great app to use in order to make additional connections with people and broaden your network. Whatever your special interests may be, chances are there is a Meetup group for it, and if there isn&rsquo;t, you can create one and start planning simple events for the groups&rsquo; members.</p>
<p><strong>This is not the be-all and end-all list of apps a grad student should have on their phone.&nbsp;Although these apps came in handy, it is also important to consider ways to organize your schedule, manage your time, keep track of your finances, and socialize with people in cases when you may not have access to a smartphone. If you have a smartphone, go nuts&mdash;the number of apps you can download is practically endless. However, if you don&rsquo;t have one, you can still have a good time in life and manage it effectively&mdash;just get creative!</strong></p>